USA Defeats Long-Time Rival Ireland

Date: Saturday, July 23, 2016

The Newport International Polo Series XXV featured USA vs. Ireland at 5pm on July 23th. Get additional match info via private email subscription, including a Game day Scorecard (sign up) and the weekly Emagazine (sign up).

Match Results:

Team USA took to the field for a historic showdown against Ireland on July 28th. This show-down is one of the most popular matches because of team USA's 25 year old rivalry with Ireland. The stands were overflowing and the lawn was buzzing; the entire match was one filled with energy and excitment.

Playing for Newport in the first spot was Heather Souto, in the second spot was Chip Stiegler, in the third spot was Dan Keating and in the fourth spot was Jim DeAngelis.

Playing for Ireland in the first spot was Willie Clare, in the second spot was Siobhan Herbst, in the third spot was Colm Kelleher, and in the fourth spot was Denis Connolly.

USA took the lead during the first Chukka with both Stiegler and DeAngelis scoring two goals each for USA. Also during the first Chukka Herbst and Kelleher scored a point each for Ireland. During the second Chukka Heather Souto scored a point for USA which was met with two goals from Ireland's Colm Kelleher. However, before the Chukka ended USA's DeAngelis scored two more points ending the Chukka 7 to 4, USA.

The third Chukka was rough for team USA; they fought hard but were unable to score a single goal and even let Ireland's Denis Connolly score one. The fourth Chukka, USA got back on track scoring 4 points in total (Souto 1, Steigler 1, DeAngelis 2) while Ireland only scored two (Herbst, Connolly). During the fifth Chukka, the two teams matched each other goal for goal with USA scoring two (Souto, Stiegler) and Ireland scoring two (Clare, Herbst). However, these two goals were not enough to keep Ireland afloat as they headed into the final Chukka. With a four point lead, USA scored five more points (4 Souto, 1 Keating) while Ireland only scored one (Kelleher). It was a riviting match but one that ended with Irelands defeat. The final score was 18 to 10, USA.

During the match, a weekly door prize drawing and the Best Tailgate were awarded. Following the match, the USA vs. Ireland perpetual cup was presented to the teams by Sean McKenna from Cox, during the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Toast and Trophy Presentation. as well as an autograph signing and cocktail hour to mingle with the players.

The Polo Series will feature 8 international teams this season including Mexico, Australia, Ireland, Italy, France, Jamaica, England, and the debut of Morocco, as well as 5 City Teams from major US cities and a few top regional rivals for an action-packed season through the end of September.

Dating back more than 130 years in Newport, the polo matches are one of Newport’s grandest & most popular traditions, a living legacy from the Gilded Age, and open to the public. Audiences of several thousand spectators enjoy the contests against international teams, as well as teams representing major US cities, playing against the home team every Sat, June thru Sept. at 5 PM / 4 PM in Sept.

Minutes from downtown Newport, the International Polo Grounds are located at historic Glen Farm, 250 Linden Lane in Portsmouth, RI. This bucolic setting is the last 100 acres of what was once a 700-acre manorial farm whose settlement dates back to the 1600's. Its classical stone barns from the Gilded Age and its park-like grounds were rehabilitated by Newport Polo founder, Dan Keating, and thrive today as an equestrian & community recreational property, and home of the Polo Series.

Discover Polo! Watch it, Play it, Support it. Newport Polo is the home of America's first polo club, est. in 1876, and founding member of the United States Polo Association offering public exhibition matches, polo club member services for grass & arena polo, and polo instruction year-round. Newport Polo hosts the Newport International Polo Series XXV. Information about Newport Polo's events, polo lessons, membership and sponsorship can be found in About Newport Polo.